Cloud9 Finalizing Deal With New York Subliners

Key insights

5 takeaways

01
Cloud9 is finalizing a partnership with the Call of Duty League (CDL) team New York Subliners to represent the organization at the Esports World Cup in August.
02
The partnership focuses on the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III competition, with reports suggesting Cloud9 may consider a full acquisition of the team in the future.
03
Cloud9’s interest in the roster is driven by financial incentives provided through the Esports World Cup Club Support Program, which rewards clubs for signing teams to compete in the multi-title event.
04
Activision Blizzard recently improved the financial landscape for CDL teams by waiving past franchise fees and returning payments made during 2024.
05
The Esports World Cup features a club competition structure where organizations earn points across multiple game titles, with a total prize pool of $7 million USD available for the top performers.

Summary

North American esports organization Cloud9 is in the process of finalizing a partnership with the Call of Duty League (CDL) team, the New York Subliners. The primary objective of this deal is to secure the Subliners to represent Cloud9 during the Esports World Cup, specifically for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III competition scheduled for August. Beyond this immediate event, there is speculation that Cloud9 may consider a future acquisition of the team, though the specifics of such a transaction remain unconfirmed.

The move is driven by the financial incentives offered through the Esports World Cup’s Club Support Program, which rewards organizations for fielding rosters across multiple titles. This partnership reflects a broader trend of strategic consolidation within the Call of Duty League, where organizations seek to leverage more favorable financial conditions following recent policy shifts by Activision Blizzard. These changes, which include the waiver of past franchise fees and the introduction of new revenue-generation opportunities, have created a more attractive environment for major organizations to re-enter or expand their presence in the league.

The potential collaboration follows a historical pattern of mergers and acquisitions within the CDL, such as the integration of OpTic Gaming with Envy Gaming and G2 Esports’ involvement with the Minnesota ROKKR. Any formal merger between Cloud9 and the New York Subliners would require regulatory approval from Activision Blizzard. Cloud9’s interest marks a return to the Call of Duty ecosystem, having previously competed in the COD World League between 2015 and 2017.